James: 'I'm innocent of all these charges'

Sharpe James left the federal courthouse in Newark this afternoon vowing he'll be vindicated of the allegations in a 33-count indictment returned by a grand jury earlier in the day.

"I'm innocent of all these charges and look forward to my day in court when the truth will come out," he said several times when approached by reporters.

Wearing a blue suit, white shirt and blue tie, James walked to a parking lot next to the courthouse. He walked alongside his two attorneys, who tried to get him into their SUV without saying much more.

Tony Kurdzuk/The Star-Ledger Former Newark Mayor Sharpe James is surrounded by reporters as he leaves federal court in Newark today. At left is his attorney, Raymond M. Brown, who is trying to coax him into the car.

But when asked a series of questions, the former Newark mayor said his wrists and ankles were a "little sore" from the handcuffs and shackles that had been placed on them. He also said he had been strip-searched inside the courthouse.

"This is the system you have to deal with," he said.

Asked if the indictment would cause him to resign his seat in the state Senate, James responded: "That's not even an issue here."

He was also asked about the coincidence of his indictment falling on the same day the Newark riots began 40 years ago.

"That's the history I was part of ... that's history they can't erase," he said.

Before getting into the back seat of the SUV and driving off, James was asked if he had posted bail. He replied with a smile: "I'm walking the streets."